Harness-buckle



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

H. F. BOOK.

HARNESS BUCKLE.

No. 327,130. Patented Sept. 29, 1885.

N. PETERS. Phom-Limugnpher. wnhingian. D C.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

H. P. BOOK.

HARNESS BUCK-LE.

'Patented'Sepi-.- 29, 1885.

Mn/6.56%: d@

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY F. BOOK, OF LANSING, ILLINOIS.

HARNESS-BUCKLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 327,130, dated September 29, 1885.

(No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY F. BooK, of Lansing, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Buckles, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawingsin which- Figure lis a back view of said buckle, to gether with a modification thereof, both connected with a strap. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal sectional View thereof. Fig. 3 isa face view of the same. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of said modification, and Fig. 5 is an inside perspective View of said buckle.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in the different figures.

The object of my invention is to provide a shield-buckle which may be cheap and simple in its construction and operation,and in which the tongue thereof shall be at right angles to the line of the strap,so that the utmost strain may be exerted upon the latter without causing the buckle-hole to be torn out, as is the tendency when the tongueis in a plane oblique to that of the strap.

A further object is to provide an adjustable or automatic guard which may serve to secure the strap continuously against the shield, and thus prevent un necessary wear upon and abrasion of the latter` all of which will be hereinafter more particularly described,and deli nitely pointed outin the claims.

In the drawings, B represents my improved buckle, the shield or body of which is formed from a single plate of sheet metal, the blank being of such a shape that when properly bent to forni the shield orbody of the buckle the latter may, by preference, assume the form as clearly indicated in the drawings, being provided with flanges B B', the latter being perforated for the reception of a cross-bar,

D, which may be riveted or secured therein in any wellknown manner.

Bent loosely around the crossvbar D, as shown in Fig. 2, is a short tongue, G, the free end of which is adapted to rest in a suitable notch in the front edge of the shield, as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4, which serves to prevent a lateral movement of the said tongue.

A is an ordinary strap, which is passed through said shield and secured to the buckle.

It will be seen by reference to Fig. 2 that the construction and adjustment of the buckletongue as described enables the same to pass through the strap A at right angles thereto, which is an obvious advantage, as it prevents the usual lateral strain aswell as the wear and abrasionincident to the bending of the strap at that point.

Back of the crossbar D, I place a secondary cross-bar, M, which may be riveted or other- Wise secured in position, and around which is coiled a spring, m, the outer ends of which are bent to form pintles e e, which are inserted through perforated lugs F F of a self-adj usting plate or guard, E, between Which and the shield the strap A is inserted, and which is designed to press against said strap and hold it continuously against the shield, thus preventing a forward movement of the strap. The tension of the spring m upon the guard E is accomplished by securing one portion of said spring to the bar M, which is, in preference, attached rigidly to the shield, said portion being hooked over a suitable lug orspur, m', as shown in Fig. l.

A modification of said guard is shown at L, Figs. l and 2, in which the spring m is dispensed with and the cross-bar constructed in an oval or elliptical i'orm,its pintles being eccentric thereto andinserted in slots g g, Figs. 2 and 4, which are oblique to the plane of the strap A, so that upon sliding said cross-bar toward the bar D the former is drawn away from the top of the shield, leaving greater room for the insertion of the strap. Then the buckle is in a vertical position, with the guard L at the lower end thereof, the tendency of said guard is to wedge itself against the strap and thus retain the latter iirxnly in place.

When said buckle-shield is constructed from light metal, I prefer to strengthen or reenforce the outermost plate or face by forming a raised design thereon of a shape adapted to impart strength thereto. In the drawings, Fig.{3, I show a horseshoe, N, and a raised triangular portion, O, extending back from the notch which receives the buckle-tongue G. It is apparent that any other device which fancy may suggest :may be adopted for the same purpose, and I do not wish to confine IOO myself to any special design. The buckle B is intended to be attached to a strap, J, which is attached around the cross-bar D, and provided with the usual loop, l. Said buckle may be manipulated by grasping the same and the strap J, and bending them inwardly toward each other, when the tongue G is removed froin its normal position, thus permitting it to be withdrawn from the perforation in the strap A.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim is- 1. A shield-buckle the body of which is constructed from asingle piece of sheet metal, provided with flanges B B and cross-bar D, to which is loosely secured a tongue having, when in its normal position, its free end resting in a notch in the shield,and being at right angles to the stra-p through which it passes, and a movable plate or guard for holding the opposite end of said shield normally against the strap, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. A shield-buckle having its body constructed from a single piece of sheet metal, provided With flanges B B and cross-bars D and M, to the former of which is secured a tongue, the normal position of which is at right angles to the strap through which it passes, and to the latter of which is attached a spring, m, loosely connected with a guard-plate, E, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

3. A shield-buckle consisting of the conibination of a body having iianges B B', crossbars D and M, tongue G, arranged at right angles to the strap, and an adjustable guard, E, connected with the cross-bar M by means of a spring, to which it is pivotally connected, substantially as and for the purposes specii fied.

HENRY F. BOOK.

Witnesses:

Louis BUTTERFIELD, J oHN M. SEMMELHAAOK. 

